Radio receiving means

ABSTRACT

Radio receiving means involving an earpiece assembly which incorporates a transducer for conforming electronic signals into audio energy and which also incorporates a conductive ring for making good conductive connection to the person&#39;&#39;s ear so that the user himself may serve as an antenna depending upon prevailing radio reception conditions. The earpiece assembly also incorporates a small casing in which a diode is mounted, the diode, transducer and conductive ring being interconnected to a pair of receiving terminals, one of which may be an elongated wire terminating in a clip for releasably fastening to an insulated or metallic element. The diode and transducer are connected in parallel in the simplest form. In some instances an additional diode may be used with the diodes being connected in series with each other and in parallel with the transducer with the diodes being so poled to obtain a circulating current through the transducer. In other modifications, a capacitor may be incorporated either in series with the diode or in series with the transducer for some frequency activity.

United States Patent [191 Minasian [111 3,821,647 1 June 28, 1974 RADIO RECEIVING MEANS [76] Inventor: John L. Minasian, 2319 W.

Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, Calif. 91506 22 Filed: Feb.6, 1973 21 Appl. No; 330,024

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart 0f Ser. No.v148,465, June 1,

1971, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 325/356, 325/361, 169/107 E [51] Int. Cl. H04b 1/08 [58] Fieldof Search 325/356, 361; 179/107 R,

179/107 E, 107 BC,107 H [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,270 5/1951 Rosenberg 325/361 Primary Examiner-Albert J. Mayer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lyon & Lyon [57] ABSTRACT -Radio receiving means involvingan earpiece assembly which incorporates a transducer for conforming electronic signals into audio energy and which also incorporates a conductive ring for making good conductive connection to the persons ear so'that the user himself may serve as an antenna depending upon prevailing radio reception conditions.

The earpiece assembly also incorporates a small casing in which a diode is mounted, the diode, transducer and conductive ring being interconnected to a pair of receiving terminals, one of which may be an elongated wire terminating in a clip for releasably fastening to an insulated or metallic element. The diode and transducer are connected in parallel in the simplest form. In some instances an additional diode may be used with the diodes being connected in series with each other and in parallel with the transducer with the diodes being so poled to obtain a circulating current through the transducer. In other modifications, a capacitor may be incorporated either in series withthc diode or in series with the transducer for some frequency activity.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures taken in connection RADIO RECEIVING MEANS The present application is a continuation in part of my pending application Ser. No. 148,465 filed June l, 1971 now abandoned.

The present invention relates to an improved radio receiving system which relies on the body of the user as 'an antenna or a ground.

One' of the objects of the present invention is to achieve an audible reproduction of radio frequency signals with a minimum of size and expense.

A further object of the present invention is to make it possible for one to rely upon objects in his environment to provide either a ground, for example. a water pipe, or an antenna, for example, the fingerstop on a dial telephone for the incoming radio signal.

When an object is used as an antenna, the body of the user is relied upon for a ground. When the object is .used as a ground, the users'body provides an antenna.

The features of .the present invention which are be lieved to be novelare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best U11 derstood by reference to the following description with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates radioreceiving means embodying features of the present invention in operative relationship to the human ear.

FIG. 2 is a section view of the earpiece shown in FIG. I with a contact plate, a capacitor, and a diode mounted thereon FIGS 3 7 are schematic circuits showing various in terconnections of components which may be mounted on an earpiece assembly and connected to the electri: cal portion of the earpiece.

FIG.3 is a preferred embodiment which contains two diodes in parallel.

FIG. 4 is a modification of FIG. 3 with the diodes reversed.

FIG. 5 illustrates another modification wherein a single diode is used.

FIG. 6 illustrates another modification wherein the diode inFIG. 5 is reversed.

FIG. 7 illustrates another modification wherein the circuit includes a single diode, an earpiece and a capacitor.

FIG. 8 illustrates another modification using a capacitor in series with the earpiece transducer.

lnFIGS. I and 2, an earpiece assembly I is illustrated, having a component cover 2 and an ear insert 3 of plastic insulating material. A body contact plate 4 in theform of a metal cylinder is mounted on the ear insert 3 and is connected by way of wire 5 to a circuit 6, a portion of which is conveniently mounted within the'component cover 2. The circuit 6 may be any one of the circuits illustrated in FIGS. 3 7 and is shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with the preferred form of the inventionto include two diodes 7 and 8. An antenna or ground may be connected to circuit 6 using a lead 9 'and alligator type clip 10. The earpiece assembly includes a transducer for converting electrical energy to audio energy, and such transducer 12 is a two-terminal network having the terminals 12 and 14 as shown in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 3 an antenna may be connected at terminal A using clip 10, in which case the body contact plate 4 is connected to terminal B. Diode 7, having anode 15 and cathode 16, is connected between terminals A and B. Diode 8, having anode l7 and. cathode 18, is connected in series with transducer 12. This series combination is connected in parallel with diode 7.

A radio signal applied to Terminal A is rectified by diode 8 so that a current corresponding to the positiveportion of the signal flows through transducer 12. Diode 7 is believed to aid in this rectification of the signal.

In FIG. 4 the diodes 7 and 8 are reversed. In this embodiment of the invention, a signal applied to terminal A is rectified as in FIG. 3, but in this case a current corresponding to the negative portion of the signal flows through the transducer 12.

In FIG. 5 a diode 20 is connected in parallel with the transducer 12. It is believed that when diode 20 is of high enough quality, an additional diode as in FIGS. 3 and 4 is not necessary to aid in the rectification. However, in accordance with an objective of minimum cost,

' an embodiment containing two inexpensive diodes may 12 so long as one such portion predominates over the other. v

A capacitor 24 may be added as shownin FIG. 7 wherein the diode 25 and capacitor 24 are connected in series at junction point or terminal 27 and the series circuit thus formed is connected in parallel with earpiece transducer 12. The body contact plate 4 in this case may be-connected to either terminal B or terminal 27. In this circuit, the diode 25 is believed toperform the function of rectifying the incoming signal. The'capacitor 24 aids in the selection of a particular signal. When a capacitor 30 is placed in series withearpiece transducer 12 and shown in FIG. 8, the value ofthe capacitor 30 is such as to admit the desired carrier frequency. When the capacitor 24 is placed in series with the diode 25 as shown in FIG. 7, the value of the capacdiode 25 as shown or in series with transducer 12 which in such case may have a coil and thus be inductive in nature.

In comparison to a conventional crystal set having a tunable tank circuit, it has been found that a tank circuit, i.e. tunable or tuned circuit tuned to the frequency of the received carrier, is not necessary in most areas since only the strongest signalcan be picked up and reproduced by this receiver which'depends upon the use of a body contact plate 4 and an earpiece'transducer 12 which is capable of reproducing audio frequencies only.

conditions of radio reception, and the user is provided with the means best suited to such conditions. For example, for best reception the wire 9 may be used as the antenna with the clip being secured to a spaced insulated structure; or the wire may be clipped to something metallic such as, for example, a water pipe, one side of a telephone'line or metallic fixture; or the body of the user may be the antenna itself or the ground or the system since it is all times in electrical connection with the circuit as a result of the good contact with the metallic plate 4 when the earpiece assembly 1 is in normal operative position as illustrated in FIG. 1.

' In neither case is the metallic clip connected directly to the plate 4 i.e., there is no direct metallic connection between the same of substantially zero electrical resistance. Thus when the clip lead 9 is connected to B the ear plate 4 is connected to the other terminal A and vice versa. When the clip 10 is being used as an antenna i.e. connected to something metallic as indicated above the plate 4 serves as a grounding plate for the persons body and vice versa when the clip 10 is connected to a solid ground the person's body in contact withthe plate 4 serves as an antenna. The particular choice depends upon environmental conditions and the availability of either a good natural ground or a non grounded structure as an antenna.

Thus this new structure involving these new concepts and imparting this capability to the structure to adopt.

the same for radio reception under the available prevailing conditions is important. I

While'the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obviearpiece assembly having a generally tubular portion insertable in the ear canal; said tubular portion including an outer metallic portion which contacts the wall of said canal of a user when said assembly is inserted in the ear canal; said assembly including a transducer with two electrical terminals; said transducer being mounted on said assembly for the transmission of sound therefrom and through said tubular portion and into said ear canal; a pair of receiving terminals; means connecting said metallic portion to one of said receiving terminals; a lead extending from said assembly and having one of its ends connected to the other one of said receiving terminals; and quickly attachable and detachable meansconnected to the other end of said lead, metallic or insulator means connected to said attachable and detachable means whereby the users body may serve either as ground or an an antenna, respectively.

2. Receiving means as set forth in claim 1 wherein the body of said user performs the function of an antenna.

3. Receiving means as set forth in claim 1 wherein a body of said user performs the function of said ground.

anode of the second diode being connected to the cathode of said first diode and said first and second diodes being in a series circuit with said transducer.

5. Receiving means as set forth in claim 1 including a capacitor connected in series with said earpiece transducer.

6. Receiving means as set forth in claim 1, adiode, and a capacitor connected in series with said diode.

7. Receiving means as set forth in claim 6. wherein said capacitor and said diode are interconnected at a receiving terminal.

8. A receiving means as set forth in claim 1 in which said earpiece assembly includes a casing which houses said diode. 

1. Radio frequency receiving means comprising; an earpiece assembly having a generally tubular portion insertable in the ear canal; said tubular portion including an outer metallic portion which contacts the wall of said canal of a user when said assembly is inserted in the ear canal; said assembly including a transducer with two electrical terminals; said transducer being mounted on said assembly for the transmission of sound therefrom and through said tubular portion and into said ear canal; a pair of receiving terminals; means connecting said metallic portion to one of said receiving terminals; a lead extending from said assembly and having one of its ends connected to the other one of said receiving terminals; and quickly attachable and detachable means connected to the other end of said lead, metallic or insulator means connected to said attachable and detachable means whereby the user''s body may serve either as ground or an an antenna, respectively.
 2. Receiving means as set forth in claim 1 wherein the body of said user performs the function of an antenna.
 3. Receiving means as set forth in claim 1 wherein a body of said user performs the function of said ground.
 4. Receiving means as set forth in claim 1 including a first diode, a second diode, said first diode being connected in series with said earpiece transducer with the anode of the second diode being connected to the cathode of said first diode and said first and second diodes being in a series circuit with said transducer.
 5. Receiving means as set forth in claim 1 including a capacitor connected in series with said earpiece transducer.
 6. Receiving means as set forth in claim 1, a diode, and a capacitor connected in series with said diode.
 7. Receiving means as set forth in claim 6 wherein said capacitor and said diode are interconnected at a receiving terminal.
 8. A receiving means as set forth in claim 1 in which said earpiece assembly iNcludes a casing which houses said diode. 